Trolls and more...

I've made several trips to Oslo, Norway on this summer run through the Baltic region, but now I've seen what I could in the amount of time I had. We pull into the long narrow channel early in the morning and dock in Oslo. Norway is the land of the midnight sun as are most of the countries we visit up here in the north. To the ancients Norway was a mythical land of barbaric and fabulous creatures. Trolls (who come in all shapes and sizes and are both good and evil) are the folklore of the country. In their hearts, many Norwegians still believe in them. The legend goes that if a troll comes out during the day it bursts into a mountain, which is why Norway is so mountainous. It was named after the Norwegian word "Norge" which was derived from "Norvegr" meaning "the way to the north." Oslo is one of the oldest Scandinavian capitals. It's one of the greenest cities in Scandinavia and the landscapes are beautiful. We dock near the Akershus castle where master builder and King of Denmark and Norway Christian IV resided. Oslo is one of Scandinavia's most expensive cities and is thriving with old and new. The National Theatre, Parliament Building, and Castle are some of the older structures left from the Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian alliance. Now the port is packed with trendy stores and expensive restaurants. The tax here on goods will run you about 25% in addition to the purchase price. It's pretty stiff and can make a meal that would normally cost $5 in the US jump up to near $10 in a heartbeat. Needless to say, McDonald's is NOT cheap here. While I was here I got to experience the beauty of the Akershus Castle. We dock right next to this structure every time. It's one of the oldest buildings in Oslo built in 1300. It was rebuilt in 1527 after a devastating fire. It's so interesting to go through this castle and get a feel for old Scandinavia. There are guards still patrolling the area and it sits on a hilltop that gives fabulous views of the city.

Just recently we went to Vigeland Park. It takes a short tram ride to get there and it's a huge park with tons of meadows and trees. Right in the center of it all are these statues that everyone comes to see. It's the lifetime work of Gustav Vigeland. He worked on the park for 40 years. The heart of the park is the Vigeland Monolith sculpted from 121 figures. Around the figure are 36 other sculptures on stairs that lead up to the centerpiece. The column is said to symbolize the struggle of life, which is one of Vigeland's main themes in all his work. The top of the piece are figures of young people and as you go to its base, the people grow older. All the people are entangled amongst each other and it's fascinating to see. I finally saw one of the most famous pieces of art here titled "The Angry Boy." It's a statue of a baby throwing a tantrum. The mystery is that no one knows why he's so furious. We had a fun day here just looking at the gardens and the art and imitating some of the statues. It was a blast. If we only had more time, it'd be the perfect place to pack a box lunch and just lay around enjoying the sun and the scenery. The atmosphere is so relaxed here it's unbelievable. There are beautiful parks, trendy hangouts, and fascinating people. The Norwegians believe in culture and display it everywhere from music, theatre, and works of art. There are statues all over the city (not just in Vigeland Park) and festivals happen all summer long. This is the home of the famous playwright Ibsen and of the famous art piece "The Scream." I'd definitely like to come here one summer and experience Oslo as it should be. It may be a while though since this place is more expensive than most places in NYC.